C13 What? You Compare Him to Kakashi?

"You'll need to adapt to these things sooner or later. Lord Masheng holds you in high regard, seeing you as the beacon of hope for Koutarou's rise. Mr. Gekka, I'm counting on you!"

Mizushiro Tsubasa gave Yang Ming a respectful bow.

"The beacon of hope for Koutarou's rise, huh?"

Yang Ming smiled at the thought but remained silent.

He had sold himself short. With the system in his possession, his ambitions had expanded to encompass the entire Ninja World. The confines of Grass Village could no longer hold him back.

Guided by Mizushiro Tsubasa, they made their way to a grand courtyard—home to the Grass Kage.

As the Grass Kage, Masheng Falcon's residence was nothing short of extraordinary, exuding opulence at every turn.

In the expansive courtyard, Masheng Falcon was sternly reprimanding a young girl, about eleven or twelve years old.

The girl stood with a delicate grace, her youthful features already hinting at future beauty.

Yet now, she hung her head in a mix of shame and sorrow, enduring Masheng Falcon's chastisement.

Upon noticing Yang Ming's arrival, Masheng Falcon's demeanor softened considerably, and he even offered a polite smile.

"Gekka, you've arrived!"

He addressed Yang Ming as an equal, setting aside his authoritative air, much to the surprise of Mizushiro Tsubasa and the young girl.

"Lord Grass Kage!"

Yang Ming greeted him with a respectful bow.

"Come now, no need for formalities. Please, have a seat."

Masheng Falcon said with a smile, his earlier reprimand forgotten as he warmly invited Yang Ming to make himself comfortable.

Yang Ming took him up on the offer without hesitation and sat down.

The conversation that followed was casual and relaxed, with none of the gravitas one might expect from a village leader. Instead, Masheng Falcon's tone was more akin to an elder's affectionate concern for a younger relative.

Yang Ming engaged freely, unfazed in the presence of the village leader.

His composure earned him a silent thumbs-up from Mizushiro Tsubasa.

After a meaningful discussion and confirming plans for attending Ninja School, Yang Ming politely declined Masheng Falcon's offer to stay longer and took his leave.

As soon as Yang Ming left, the little girl who had been biting her tongue finally burst out, watching his retreating figure with dissatisfaction.

"Grandpa, aren't you a bit too partial? You're so harsh with me, yet you treat that little squirt with kid gloves. He's what, five years old?"

"If you possessed his level of talent and potential, I'd treat you the same way," Matsushita replied sharply, giving the girl a stern look.

"Talent and potential? Grandpa, you can't be serious. He's just a five-year-old kid. What kind of talent could he possibly have? He probably doesn't even know how to harness Chakra yet!" The little girl was baffled.

"Miss Mizushita, let me explain," Mizushiro Tsubasa interjected quickly, seeing her confusion.

"Gekka Ming is no ordinary child. Just earlier, Chu Koichi and a group of more than ten went after him, and Gekka Ming effortlessly took them down with his Body Technique. Chu Koichi couldn't even get a chance to form a seal or use a Ninja Technique in his presence!"

"Chu Koichi? The strongest of our group?" The girl's face went pale, disbelief etched across her features.

"You're telling me that this kid, Gekka Ming, actually defeated Chu Koichi?"

"This has to be some kind of joke!"

"Miss Mizushita, please be careful with your words," Mizushiro Tsubasa said, his face darkening upon hearing how the girl referred to Yang Ming.

"In the Ninja World, strength is revered, and it's survival of the fittest. You need to outgrow this attitude. Gekka Ming has an unlimited potential and represents the future of our Grass Village. He's akin to Konoha's Kakashi Hatake, which is why Lord Matsushita treats him with such respect and without pretense. You mustn't underestimate him simply because he's young!"

"What? Are you actually comparing him to Kakashi Hatake of Konoha?"